PWHL Expands to Detroit for 2026‑27 Season at Little Caesars
The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) officially announced on Wednesday that it will add a ninth franchise for the 2026‑27 season, expanding into Detroit, Michigan.
Dubbed PWHL Detroit, the new club will call Little Caesars Arena – home to the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and NBA’s Detroit Pistons – its home venue, while training operations will be based at the BELFOR Training Center located within the same complex.
Detroit becomes the first of potentially four new markets the league plans to introduce through expansion, joining the original six clubs in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Boston, New York and Minnesota, as well as the league’s first expansion franchises in Seattle and Vancouver.
The league continues to operate under a single‑entity ownership model owned by billionaire Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra, meaning no individual team owners exist as in most major North American professional sports leagues.
“This one’s been a while in the making,” PWHL executive vice president of business operations Amy Scheer told Veezstream, noting that the timing finally aligned for Detroit’s entry.
Ilitch Sports and Entertainment, the organization that owns the Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, led Detroit’s bid, with president and CEO Ryan Gustafson emphasizing the city’s enthusiastic response to previous PWHL events.
The league’s recent neutral‑site games at Little Caesars Arena have drawn a cumulative 53,586 fans over three years, highlighted by a March 28 matchup that attracted 15,938 spectators, the highest attendance for a PWHL game in Detroit.
| Event | Attendance | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Victoire vs. New York Sirens | 15,938 | Mar 28 2024 |
| Total PWHL games at LCA (3 years) | 53,586 | 201‑2024 |
That March 28 contest was also the first PWHL game aired on national U.S. television, broadcast on ION, illustrating the league’s growing media footprint.
Scheer highlighted the venue’s flexibility, noting that double‑headers with the Red Wings could provide viable scheduling solutions for a busy arena calendar.
The expansion decision was guided by a comprehensive set of criteria, including market size, fan support, existing infrastructure, and economic opportunity, all of which Detroit satisfied according to league officials.
Executive vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford pointed to the city’s “best‑in‑class” facility and dedicated locker rooms as essential components for player experience and day‑to‑day operations.
Geographically, Detroit adds a second Midwestern franchise alongside Minnesota, reducing travel distances for intra‑league matchups and offering a relatively quick flight for the Minnesota Frost’s road games.
The region’s robust girls’ hockey ecosystem, featuring programs such as Little Caesars and Honey Baked, already contributes talent to the league, with Boston Fleet captain Megan Keller and top prospect Kirsten Simms representing Detroit‑based clubs.
Detroit will also host the 2026 PWHL Draft on June 17 and the league’s Awards ceremony on June 16 at the historic Fox Theatre, marking the city’s growing role in league milestones.
Hefford expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming events, stating that hosting a draft and awards ceremony will build momentum for the new franchise as it prepares for its inaugural season.
The team’s branding reveals primary colors of black and silver, complemented by white with a red accent, nodding to the Red Wings’ iconic winged wheel palette.
Ally Financial, a Detroit‑based firm, will appear on the chest of the inaugural jerseys as the league’s first partner for the franchise, reinforcing local corporate support.
While the permanent name and logo remain pending, the league previously introduced generic city‑stitched jerseys for expansion teams, mirroring the design tradition of the original six clubs in 2024.
The PWHL Players Association recently distributed a guide outlining the expansion roster‑building process, which includes multiple signing windows and excludes a traditional expansion draft.
In an email obtained by Veezstream, PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood indicated that the league intends to proceed with a four‑team expansion, though the league later clarified that the exact number remains unsettled.
Scheer confirmed that the expansion timeline could involve two, three, or four new teams, with the process slated to begin on May 28, just weeks after the Detroit announcement.
Overall, Detroit’s addition expands the league’s footprint, enhances competitive balance, and provides new opportunities for women’s hockey players, fans, and stakeholders across the Midwest.
